The Cardinals have totally owned the line of scrimmage with 274 yards on the ground. Riley Neal never got the passing game going, but he didn't need to. Just 29 passing attempts compared to 46 on the ground.

Neal just gained 46 yards on a read-option run up the middle, then handed off to Teddy Williamson on the next play for a 15-yard touchdown.

Before that, it was a 79-yard drive for the Cardinals, but they got stuffed at the 1-yard line on fourth down. The big goal line stand by the Panthers got them possession, but they couldn't finish their drive.

Quarterback Neal targeted wide receiver Lacanaria for the first time with about eight minutes to go, but the pass was way too high. Ball State had to punt for the fourth time.

Neal has just four completions mid-way through the fourth and two interceptions.

Ball State's defense forced a couple punts, and really looks pretty solid here in the second. Defensive tackle Kevin Thurmon got his first career sack to stall one of those drives. Apart from the 11-play scoring drive that gave Georgia State the lead early in the second quarter, things have been good for Ball State.

***

The first quarter was sloppy, to put it simply.

Ball State and Georgia State combined for four turnovers as both units tried to find their rhythms. The Cardinals received to start the game, but Neal threw a pick-six just three plays in.

The next drive wasn't much better as a tipped Neal pass was picked off. Not his fault the second time, though, as the defense was bringing a lot of pressure.

The third drive was a three-and-out highlighted by Kyle Schmidt's 46-yard punt. Things finally got going as Ball State scored on a nine-play scoring drive, but only after wide receiver Jordan Hogue and true freshman running back Malik Dunner dropped a pass each.

Seven runs and two passes on that scoring drive for Ball State. Just one play goes for more than seven yards. pic.twitter.com/mOGdBoxdQj

Ball State's defense played well through the quarter as it stuffed Georgia State on a fourth down attempt and forced two turnovers -- one Anthony Winbush fumble recovery and another Corey Hall interception.